National Shop for Travel Day

January 8th is National Shop for Travel Day and it couldn't come at a better time during Wave Season. If you've never heard of Wave Season before, read on.

Wave (n) A long body of water curling into an arched form and breaking on the shore

Despite the image, that's not the definition we have in mind. The cruise industry's "Wave Season," which takes place between January and March, is when cruise lines offer some of their very best extra-value incentives for booking cruise vacations.

Timing is Everything - Plan Early

January to March is the time when there are the most consumers looking at cruise vacations.   You might have special needs / wants, such as a mid-ship location, larger cabins holding 3 or more passengers, a handicapped cabin, an itinerary on a particular small ship that has limited occupancy.   You probably aren't the only ones with similar requirements.  To quote a popular saying, "the early bird gets the worm".

When looking at special needs such as triple or quad occupancy, handicapped cabins, mid-ship location, etc., there are a finite number of cabins that meet those classifications.   These are among the first cabins selected by early planners.  If you wait until late in Wave Season, or worse, later in the year, you may not be able to find your choice, or at the very least, will pay a premium for that selection.

Taking Advantage of Wave Season


What's the best deal during Wave Season?  There are so many offers during Wave Season, it's hard to determine what's the best deal to take advantage of.   We'd suggest you focus on offers that provide cabin upgrades, free or reduced airfare, and other amenities which typically aren't available year-round.   We have offers crossing our desk every day throughout Wave Season.  We'll do our best to publicize them on our website, here in this blog, and limit a few to our Facebook Fans only.   So be sure to sign up for our eNewsletter, subscribe to this blog, and become a fan on our Facebook Page.   Call or email us with your bucket list and we can keep watch for you during the next couple of months.

In closing, take advantage of this special season - you deserve a vacation and you deserve to get the best value.

We offer our Best Price & Satisfaction Guarantee so plan with confidence and Take to the Waves this Wave Season.   

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Diary of New Zealand Cruise

New Zealand Cruise on Your Bucket List?

If so, this cruise diary is for you.  It includes ideas for things to do pre-cruise, since we always suggest arriving a couple days prior to your cruise embarkation, as well as day by day journal of our voyage.

How it Began

While onboard Sapphire Princess last January, we looked at cruises for 2019.  Princess Cruises was still celebrating their 50th Anniversary with a sale which included onboard credits.   We looked at several possible cruises, but hadn't made up our mind.

Our table mates were from Australia, which got us talking about traveling to that part of the world.  In addition, New Zealand is one of the hot destinations for 2019.  We try to stay current with travel trends so that we can advise our clients based on personal experiences.   Also, Majestic Princess is Princess Cruises newest Royal-class ship, which entered service in 2017.

Majestic Princess - Sydney R/T

We showed out mates the itinerary we were looking at, and they agreed with us that it would be a fabulous cruise, so we took advantage of the onboard booking incentives.   Ironically, the agent that had booked our Southeast Asia cruise was the Next Cruise Specialist onboard.  She was so excited to be planning our next cruise as well.

As usual, we arrived a day early so that we can get acclimated to the time change and avoid departure day anxiety should flights be delayed.  Our pre-cruise stay was at Intercontinental Hotel Sydney which overlooks the harbour.

Bookmark this page - we will be adding day by day reviews as well as links to our photo albums.


Be sure to follow us on our other social media accounts during the cruise for live posts.

13 Day Australia - New Zealand Cruise

	Port	Blog Posts	Photo Albums / Videos
Wed Jan 9	Travel to Sydney ORD-LAX-SYD
Fri Jan 11	Sydney Pre-Cruise Intercontinental Sydney	Greetings From Sydney 87 Years and Counting	Intercontinental Hotel Sydney Sydney Opera House The Royal Botanical Garden
Sat Jan 12	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Check In 12:00pm-3:00pm	Majestic Princess Embarkation Welcome Aboard Majestic Princess Relaxing at Sea on Majestic Princesss	Transfer to Pier Cabin B201 Lotus Spa
Sun Jan 13	At Sea	Hooray for Hollywood	Hollywood Pool Club Hollywood Conservatory
Mon Jan 14	At Sea	Best Peking Duck Salad at Sea	Harmony
Tue Jan 15	Bay of Islands 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Island & Cave Adventure (8:30 AM)	Bay of Islands New Zealand Paihia Haere Mai	Bay of Islands Island & Cave Adventure (Video) Paihia
Wed Jan 16	Auckland 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM LOCAL CONNECTIONS: CITY DRIVE & AUCKLAND MUSEUM (8:00 AM)	Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Maori History Auckland Museum Journey Through Time Remembering the War	Auckland City Drive Auckland Museum
Thu Jan 17	Tauranga 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM Lord of the Rings Hobbiton Movie Set Tour (10:45 AM)	McLaren Falls Park Journey to Shire of Hobbiton New Zealand Manuka Honey	Tauranga McLaren Falls Park Hobbiton New Zealand Honey Journey to Hobbiton Movie Set (Video)
Fri Jan 18	At Sea
Sat Jan 19	Wellington 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM Te Papa Museum & Cable Car (12:30 PM)	Discover Wellington	Wellington Te Papa Museum Wellington Cable Car
Sun Jan 20	Akaroa 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wildlife Cruise by Sailing Ketch (8:30 AM)	Akaroa by Sailing Ketch Akaroa Wharf	Sailing Ketch Cruise Akaroa Wharf Wildlife Viewing Akaroa NZ Sailing Ketch (Video)
Mon Jan 21	Dunedin 6:45 AM - 3:30 PM Otago Peninsula Yellow-eyed Penguin Reserve (9:00 AM)	When Mother Nature Has Other Plans Picton Marlborough Country	Marlborough Artisan Hub Picton Wine Country
Tue Jan 22	Fiordland National Park (scenic cruising) 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM	Cruising Marlborough Sounds	Marlborough Sounds Sunset Cruising Sound
Wed Jan 23	At Sea
Thu Jan 24	At Sea
Fri Jan 25	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 6:00 AM Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay	Disembarkation Day Sydney Australia Exploring Sydney in Two Days Stopping at Bondi Beach	Sydney Marriott Big Bus Sydney Bondi Beach Manly Ferry Crepes
Sat Jan 26	Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay	Celebrating Australia Day	Australia Day Ferry Harbor Tour
Sun Jan 27	Travel to Chicago

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Pamper Yourself on Celebrity Edge

Tranquil Edge

At the heart of The Spa on Celebrity Edge is the SEA Thermal Suite and its eight distinct spaces. Complimentary for all AquaClass guests, it’s a playground for the senses and an incredible place to relax before or after your treatments at The Spa. Guests in other cabin categories can purchase a one-day pass or length of cruise pass to the thermal suite, subject to availability.

Celebrity kept everything that has made the Persian Garden so popular on their current fleet and elevated it to a whole new level of tranquility.

click images to enlarge

Salt Room 

Sit down, relax, and take a deep healing breath. The elements of water, earth, and air are all present in this simulated salt cave environment that’s believed to help treat a variety of respiratory and skin conditions.

Heated Tile Loungers 

Offering panoramic views, our heated tile loungers make this space the perfect zen zone to relax after your treatments. Lie down, stretch out, and let the soothing warmth radiate through your body.

Rainfall Water Therapy Room 

What’s more renewing than a spring shower? The element of water takes center stage as simulated rain showers—ranging from warm to cool, from light drops to a waterfall—massage the body, invigorate the soul, and wash away your worries.


Hammam 

Combining the elements of water and earth, this is Celebrity's modern take on the traditional Turkish bath. Adorned in sleek gorgeous tile mosaics, this quiet retreat invites you to loosen muscles with a body polish that will leave you glowing and relaxed.

Crystalarium 

Combining the elements of water and earth, this is their modern take on the traditional Turkish bath. Adorned in sleek gorgeous tile mosaics, this quiet retreat invites you to loosen muscles with a body polish that will leave you glowing and relaxed.

Edge Spa & Fitness album

Steam Room

Soothe your senses where the elements of water and air mingle. Let the moist heat open up your airways, and feel refreshed as toxins seem to melt away from your body as you sweat.

Infrared Sauna Room

State-of-the-art technology heats the air to calm the body and relieve stress, releasing feel-good endorphins. The infrared lighting system offers many of the benefits of natural sunlight without the impact of ultraviolet light.

Float Room 

Feel lighter than air as you swing into a meditative sleep, cocooned in floating basket chairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views of the sea, keeping you connected to the water as you reach new heights of restfulness.

November 25-27, 2018   Trade & Press Sailing

Click on Celebrity Edge's Magic Carpet to be transported to our Preview Sailing adventure.  Be among the first to see the brand new ship before it is sailing revenue cruises.

Celebrity Edge Shutterfly Share Page

Check out our dedicated Celebrity Edge page on our Shutterfly Share Site.

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